Final answer:
A patriarchal society is one where men hold primary power in political, social, and family structures. Patriarchy has been evident in various cultures, with India serving as a historical example. Despite legal reforms, patriarchal traditions continue in certain areas, contrasting with the non-dominant organization of hypothetical matriarchal societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When sociologists refer to a patriarchal society, they are describing a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. This extends from the highest levels of societal organizations to individual family units where the eldest male often dictates the family structure and decision-making. Patriarchy is evident across various historical periods and cultures, including ancient societies like Vedic India, where males dominated economic and political life, to more contemporary examples where reforms have challenged such gender-based hierarchies yet could not entirely erase the patriarchal traditions in certain contexts, such as in some rural Indian communities.
Although contemporary reforms have attempted to impact the patriarchal structure by promoting women's education, inheritance rights, and employment, the remnants of patriarchy can still be observed. For example, women's roles and statuses in society are deeply affected by this ideology, particularly in places where patriarchal customs continue despite legal reforms. Comparatively, attempts to find matriarchy, or societies in which women hold equivalent levels of power as men, have not revealed any such dominant societal organization in today’s world, although matrilineal societies where lineage and inheritance are traced through women exist, they should not be confused with matriarchal societies.